Alma City OKs special assessment for unpaid charges and approves park design, vehicle and equipment purchases

The Alma City Commission voted to confirm a special assessment rule allowing unpaid municipal charges as of June 1, 2026, to be placed on the July 1, 2026 tax roll. The special assessment covers unpaid utility accounts and other municipal charges such as noxious-weed abatements, sidewalk replacements, frozen meters, sanitary service leads, rental-license fees, improper parking and securing unsafe property.

A staff member presented the unpaid-charge totals during the public hearing portion of the meeting and said the assessments across categories add up to roughly $96,500 in total assessments. Staff read category-level figures aloud during the hearing: "We have a total of $53,100" for unpaid utility accounts and reported other category totals including about $8,066 for noxious-weed charges and approximately $14,731.29 for sidewalk replacements.

The commission then adopted a resolution confirming the assessment rule and authorizing staff to place those charges on the tax roll.

Separately, the commission approved a suite of procurement requests on the consent/regular agenda. Key items approved included:

- A request for purchase to OM Advisors for $39,581 to provide field work, construction documents, permitting and bidding services related to a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund park improvement project at Riverside Park (overlook deck and pavilion). Staff said the contract will fund design work to move the project forward under the DNR grant.

- Purchase of a 2027 Ford F-600 from Luney R Ford for $60,005.97 for Public Works (budgeted replacement of unit), and a separate $66,004.65 contract with Truck and Trailer Specialties to install a swap-loader (SL110) on the new truck. Public Works staff (Dave Riggle) described the swap-loader as a multi-use replacement box with a hydraulic hook that allows the city to add accessories such as water tanks, de-icing tanks, and crack-sealing equipment.

- A $10,774.36 contract to Pat's Auto to replace a structurally compromised frame on DPW pickup Unit 30 rather than purchase a $60,000-plus replacement truck.

- A purchase to Medler Electric to continue replacement of aging lighting engines on city posts, as part of an ongoing multi-year replacement schedule for lighting fixtures installed in 2008.

Staff noted that some of these items were budgeted and that accessories for the swap-loader would be purchased later as budget and needs allow. Each purchase was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

What happens next: staff will execute the contracts and place approved unpaid charges on the tax roll per the adopted resolution; design work on the Riverside Park grant project will proceed under the OM Advisors agreement.